The crunch relegation game was played at the Vetch

They avoided relegation with a six-goal thriller at the Vetch Field which included a hat-trick by forward James Thomas, the first just eight minutes after kick-off.

The Swans needed a win over visitors Hull to guarantee they would not be pipped at the post to the last place in Division Three by fellow strugglers Exeter City.

The drama was heightened before kick-off when team boss Brian Flynn learnt the Exeter game was to start 15 minutes later than planned - possible affecting his side's tactics.

Final score

But the 9,585-strong crowd need not have worried even though Hull briefly went ahead in the first half, ahead of a controversial penalty for the home side just on the break.

The final score was 4-2 to Swansea, leading to rapturous singing and cheers from the thousands of fans.

Defeat could have meant the Swans exiting the Football League after 83 years, just as the city is trying to promote itself as a Barcelona-style waterfront destination.

Confident of a win: Swansea boss Brian Flynn

The relegation fight was a far cry from the club's halcyon days in the 1980s when it reached the former Division One, the forerunner to the premiership.

But director of football Flynn said the match would still go down well in the club's history.

"In years to come people will remember this game, maybe not as much as the first game in the first division against Leeds, but the players involved in Swansea since we came will be fondly remembered.

"I was always confident we were going to do it," he said.

Swansea's success in ensuring Wales retains three teams in the football league has been seen as important for the national football team, currently rising through Fifa's rankings.

Waterfront

But civic leaders behind plans for an all-seater football and rugby stadium at Morfa also see the club's status as crucial to their proposals to promote the city as high-profile waterfront destination.

Veteran councillor and long-term season ticket holder Tyssul Lewis said: "We're in the throes of building a new stadium and it would not look very nice to have to go into the conference.

"We must now look forward to better things next season.

"The fact is the waterfront will be the big boost for Swansea and it all adds to the success of the city."